Para Vista Lutheran Church

This Sunday we will be looking at 1 Samuel 8 where the people of Israel through the prophet Samuel ask God for a king. Samuel their leader is aging and with the looming threat of war they’re desperately looking for a leader to guide them through.

As you read through the chapter it becomes clear that God is not pleased with their request. Why? God is not pleased because in asking for a king the Israelites are rejecting God as their king. They are doubting God’s capacity to safely lead them through the threat of war just as he had done in the past. Would God be enough for them this time? Their request for a king reveals their doubt.

Is God enough? We all face this question in our faith journey. Is God enough to get me through this or should I look for something more? As we look at 1 Samuel 8 this Sunday, we will explore what happens when we no longer believe that God is enough and how our choice to add something is a rejection of God. The reality is that whatever we hope to gain by adding to God we end up losing.

The good news is that God’s grace can reconfigure our bad choices and use them for his purposes. God’s grace is enough to take Israel’s sinful choice to have a king and reconfigure it into a Saviour. Whatever you are facing in life right now, even if it is of your own making, God is enough to get you through.

Noel Kluge

This Sunday we will be looking at 1 Samuel 8 where the people of Israel through the prophet Samuel ask God for a king. Samuel their leader is aging and with the looming threat of war they’re desperately looking for a leader to guide them through.

As you read through the chapter it becomes clear that God is not pleased with their request. Why? God is not pleased because in asking for a king the Israelites are rejecting God as their king. They are doubting God’s capacity to safely lead them through the threat of war just as he had done in the past. Would God be enough for them this time? Their request for a king reveals their doubt.

Is God enough? We all face this question in our faith journey. Is God enough to get me through this or should I look for something more? As we look at 1 Samuel 8 this Sunday, we will explore what happens when we no longer believe that God is enough and how our choice to add something is a rejection of God. The reality is that whatever we hope to gain by adding to God we end up losing.

The good news is that God’s grace can reconfigure our bad choices and use them for his purposes. God’s grace is enough to take Israel’s sinful choice to have a king and reconfigure it into a Saviour. Whatever you are facing in life right now, even if it is of your own making, God is enough to get you through.

Noel Kluge

A message by Pastor Paul Fielke, read by Michael Gower.

St Paul never compromised God’s standards, but he was always willing to forego traditions and other things in order to reach any audience.  He used things that would give him credibility with his audience so that he had common ground with them.  He earned the right to speak so that he could tell people about God’s love in Jesus.

Being all things to all people is something St Paul did to enable others to hear the wonderful message of Jesus.  It is also a way we have of showing God’s care and love to all people as well.

 

A message by Pastor Paul Fielke, read by Michael Gower.

St Paul never compromised God’s standards, but he was always willing to forego traditions and other things in order to reach any audience.  He used things that would give him credibility with his audience so that he had common ground with them.  He earned the right to speak so that he could tell people about God’s love in Jesus.

Being all things to all people is something St Paul did to enable others to hear the wonderful message of Jesus.  It is also a way we have of showing God’s care and love to all people as well.

 

The opening question of this Psalm resonates with all of us.  To be a human being, so often means having to face numerous problems and challenges in life.  No one is immune from that.  Sooner or later, we all find ourselves asking: Who’s going to help me?  How am I going to get through this?  How will I cope?  These kinds of questions naturally come up when we’re faced with difficulties in life – when we’re pulling a heavy load and it all seems a bit too much for us.

Where will my help come from when I get sick?  Or when my loved ones get sick?  Where will my help come from when my business fails?  Or my marriage fails?  Where will my help come from when I feel overwhelmed and afraid?  When I don’t think I can cope anymore?  Where will my help come from when I don’t know what to do?  And when I feel like giving up?  Where will my help come from when I feel crushed by guilt?  Or when I’ve been deeply wounded by others?

With the Psalmist, we can confidently say, “My help comes from the Lord!”  These problems may indeed be too much for us to handle on our own, but God promises to be with us, and nothing is too much for Him to handle!

The take-home message for us, is that we can trust in God because He is trustworthy.  We can have faith in Jesus because he is faithful to us – always and in all things!  This same confidence in God’s faithfulness and goodness to us, is repeated in Romans 8:37-39, where we are reassured that whatever life throws up at us, whatever we have to go through, God will always be with us, and He won’t let us down.  God will continue to be faithful and trustworthy.  And His love for us will never fail!

Pr. Richard Haar

The opening question of this Psalm resonates with all of us.  To be a human being, so often means having to face numerous problems and challenges in life.  No one is immune from that.  Sooner or later, we all find ourselves asking: Who’s going to help me?  How am I going to get through this?  How will I cope?  These kinds of questions naturally come up when we’re faced with difficulties in life – when we’re pulling a heavy load and it all seems a bit too much for us.

Where will my help come from when I get sick?  Or when my loved ones get sick?  Where will my help come from when my business fails?  Or my marriage fails?  Where will my help come from when I feel overwhelmed and afraid?  When I don’t think I can cope anymore?  Where will my help come from when I don’t know what to do?  And when I feel like giving up?  Where will my help come from when I feel crushed by guilt?  Or when I’ve been deeply wounded by others?

With the Psalmist, we can confidently say, “My help comes from the Lord!”  These problems may indeed be too much for us to handle on our own, but God promises to be with us, and nothing is too much for Him to handle!

The take-home message for us, is that we can trust in God because He is trustworthy.  We can have faith in Jesus because he is faithful to us – always and in all things!  This same confidence in God’s faithfulness and goodness to us, is repeated in Romans 8:37-39, where we are reassured that whatever life throws up at us, whatever we have to go through, God will always be with us, and He won’t let us down.  God will continue to be faithful and trustworthy.  And His love for us will never fail!

Pr. Richard Haar

Change is always hard, and times of transition can be quite challenging.  At Para Vista we are beginning to come to terms with the fact that Pastor Rolly will no longer be with us.  That’s a big change for us!  How will we transition successfully through this?

In Joshua chapter 1, we encounter the people of Israel in transition.  Moses was dead and Joshua was wondering whether he was up to the task of leading God’s people.  Those were some pretty big shoes to fill!  It seems to me that many of the things that God said to encourage Joshua, equally applies to us today.

In verse 3 God says to Joshua, “As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land.”  Here God is reassuring Joshua and the people that the promises spoken to Moses still hold good, even though Moses is no longer with them.

Note too how God refers to the people as “my” people, not Moses’ people.  In the same way, God claims you as his own here at Para Vista.  Jesus is your true Pastor, not Pastor Rolly or Pastor Reid.  They may have left, but Jesus is still with us!  And his promises to you still hold true!  God is, and will continue to be, faithful during this time of vacancy and transition.

In verse 5 God says, “I will be with you as I was with Moses.  I will always be with you; I will never abandon you.”  You can’t help but think of Jesus’ other name, “Immanuel” when you read this.  Immanuel, of course, means, “God with us.”

Next God says to Joshua the same thing three times in a row.  In verse 6 God says, “Be determined and confident.”  He repeats the same encouragement in verse 7, “Just be determined, be confident.”  And for a third time God says in verse 9, “Remember I have commanded you to be determined and confident!”  God says it three times.  Clearly God wants us to take this message to heart!

So, let’s be really determined to remember that and be super confident because of it, knowing that God loves each one of us and will be with us every step of the way!

Pr. Richard Haar

Change is always hard, and times of transition can be quite challenging.  At Para Vista we are beginning to come to terms with the fact that Pastor Rolly will no longer be with us.  That’s a big change for us!  How will we transition successfully through this?

In Joshua chapter 1, we encounter the people of Israel in transition.  Moses was dead and Joshua was wondering whether he was up to the task of leading God’s people.  Those were some pretty big shoes to fill!  It seems to me that many of the things that God said to encourage Joshua, equally applies to us today.

In verse 3 God says to Joshua, “As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land.”  Here God is reassuring Joshua and the people that the promises spoken to Moses still hold good, even though Moses is no longer with them.

Note too how God refers to the people as “my” people, not Moses’ people.  In the same way, God claims you as his own here at Para Vista.  Jesus is your true Pastor, not Pastor Rolly or Pastor Reid.  They may have left, but Jesus is still with us!  And his promises to you still hold true!  God is, and will continue to be, faithful during this time of vacancy and transition.

In verse 5 God says, “I will be with you as I was with Moses.  I will always be with you; I will never abandon you.”  You can’t help but think of Jesus’ other name, “Immanuel” when you read this.  Immanuel, of course, means, “God with us.”

Next God says to Joshua the same thing three times in a row.  In verse 6 God says, “Be determined and confident.”  He repeats the same encouragement in verse 7, “Just be determined, be confident.”  And for a third time God says in verse 9, “Remember I have commanded you to be determined and confident!”  God says it three times.  Clearly God wants us to take this message to heart!

So, let’s be really determined to remember that and be super confident because of it, knowing that God loves each one of us and will be with us every step of the way!

Pr. Richard Haar

This Sunday will be my last sermon as your pastor here at Good Shepherd.

Last words can be poignant and impacting.  The “last words” I want to share with you are not mine, but God’s!  God has spoken to us most clearly and personally in his Son: Jesus – the Word made flesh.  In Jesus we discover that our Father’s heart is always beating with love for us, wanting us to be in relationship with him, and to join his work in this world.

The writer of Hebrews 12:1-3 warns his audience not to return to their old way of life, but to walk in the freedom and life that Jesus has for us.  He urges his readers – and us – not to get distracted by lesser things, or things that have no future in God’s plans; but to run the race trusting God’s promises and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

I thank you for the privilege of sharing the Scriptures with you and pointing you to Jesus.  As I bid you farewell, I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

- Pastor Rolly Stahl

 

This Sunday will be my last sermon as your pastor here at Good Shepherd.

Last words can be poignant and impacting.  The “last words” I want to share with you are not mine, but God’s!  God has spoken to us most clearly and personally in his Son: Jesus – the Word made flesh.  In Jesus we discover that our Father’s heart is always beating with love for us, wanting us to be in relationship with him, and to join his work in this world.

The writer of Hebrews 12:1-3 warns his audience not to return to their old way of life, but to walk in the freedom and life that Jesus has for us.  He urges his readers – and us – not to get distracted by lesser things, or things that have no future in God’s plans; but to run the race trusting God’s promises and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

I thank you for the privilege of sharing the Scriptures with you and pointing you to Jesus.  As I bid you farewell, I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

- Pastor Rolly Stahl